Charlotte County Weekly Department Highlights Published 10/2/18

Community Services

Charlotte Sports Park The Charlotte Sports Park hosted one Tampa Bay Rays Instructional League game this week, on Saturday, 9/22. The next games will take place on Saturday, 9/29, and Wednesday, 10/3. Charlotte Sports Park also held their annual Trip to the Trop on Wednesday, 9/26. This bus trip took 25 participants from Charlotte Sports Park to Tropicana Field to watch the Tampa Bay Rays play ball against the New York Yankees. Coming up this week, the Bocca Lupo Howl at the Moon 5K will take place at Charlotte Sports Park on Friday, 9/28. Perfect Games will be using the Charlotte Sports Park practice fields and stadium field for their travel-ball tournament starting Thursday, 10/4, running through Sunday, 10/7. Harold Avenue Park Last week at Harold Avenue Park Pickleball was held Monday through Friday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Table was held here on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Open Gym was held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and on Friday evening from 4-7 p.m. Youth Drop-In was held on Tuesday from 6-9 p.m. and again on Saturday from 9-10:30 a.m. Adult Drop-In Basketball was held on Monday and Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. Drop-In was held on Thursday from 6:30-9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday St. Charles Borromeo Girls Volleyball rented the gymnasium for practices and games from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Zumba class was held on Monday and Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and again on Saturday from 10:15-11:15 a.m. Zumba has turned out to be an instant favorite! Tuesday Beginning Clogging was held from 6-7 p.m. and Intermediate Clogging was held from 7-8 p.m. Pound Workout Class was held on Friday from 5:45-6:45 p.m. Daughters At Play held practices Monday and Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. and held their second week of games on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. DAP has turned out to be a very beneficial service to the young female community who enjoy the game of Basketball. Bonsai was also held from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday. Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool For the week of 9/18 through 9/24, Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool had 365 paid admissions, was visited by 170 pass holders, and 112 water aerobics participants. The Lemon Bay High School swim team five swim practices resulting in approximately 150 “splashes.” Port Charlotte Beach Park Sept 19, was Wildlife Explorers with a guest speaker from CHEC. The kids were really into her hands-on animal guessing games, and really liked the skull of a dolphin. Sept. 22, there was a big birthday party in the evening. Sept. 26, there was Ambassador’s meeting from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. There is the Wildlife program again at 4 p.m. and Yoga at 6:30 p.m. Extension Services • Newspaper Article for Sept. 24 – “The Bolivian sunflower - a ghost from the past” • CED Meeting - Zoom – Sept. 24 • MG Radio - WCCF 1580 – Sept. 25 • Site Visit - Landscape Issues - N. Port Development – Sept. 26

Page 1 of 5 • Southwest FL Pest Management Conference - Southwestern State College - Ft. Myers – Sept. 27 • Woody Ornamentals - Planting and Pruning - MG Training- North Fort Myers Recreation Center - Lee County Extension – Sept. 28 Natural Resources Ballfield and Park Maintenance: NCRP, SCRP 8 Regulation and 22 youth sized soccer fields layout and painted for the start of soccer season Harold Ave, SCRP, NCRP. Final clean up and prep of 21 and fields for the start of fall ball season Franz Ross, ADRP, Carmalita, layout and painting of 9 football fields for Pop Warner. Installation of Disc Course Carmalita softball. Ongoing adult and church league softball. Horse arena gravel road maintenance and arena cleaning for the start of PGHA season Pickelball cage for nets at Port Charlotte Beach Park

New Bike racks at Englewood Beach

Lake Betty and Kiwanis Parks Maintenance on Pavilions

Page 2 of 5 Staff was notified of a new burrowing owl nest on private property in the Rotonda Villa area. Burrowing owls are not commonly found in Charlotte county so this was a real treat!

Port Charlotte Public Library On Tuesday, Sept. 25, the Port Charlotte Library showed the movie Hidden Figures as part of the monthly “See You at the Cinema” program. The patrons in attendance enjoyed the movie and at least two attendees requested library copies of the movie to view it again. Punta Gorda Public Library On Thursday, Sept. 20, library staff members attended the back-to-school night for Good Shepherd Day School. Adults and children signed up for library cards and learned about the services, programs and resources the Charlotte County Library System has to offer. History Services On Wednesday, Sept. 17, the Pirate Party drew over 100 kids who celebrated “speak like a pirate day” and learned what life was like for real life pirates. The attendees, many dressing the part, explored the pirate recruiting station and signed up for pirate duty, taking turns walking the plank over “shark infested waters” (a blue tarp) and sinking ships by using “cannon balls” (bean bags) in true pirate fashion. They also ate oranges to help prevent scurvy and the most daring sampled pickled eggs for a taste of fermented food that pirates ate while on a long voyage. A photo station preserved the moment and a craft station provided enjoyment for parents and kids alike. Six Historical Voyager volunteers outfitted in proper pirate attire assisted with the event.

Page 3 of 5 Mid-County Regional Library The Mid County Regional Library recently held several very successful youth programs. On Saturday, Sept. 22, the Princess Tea Party had over 300 participants! “Royal” attendees (both princesses and princes) created their own crowns, ate as many doughnuts as their hearts desired and took selfies with classic fairy tale props in front of a castle background. To help develop a love of reading, library staff members provided a selection of fairy tales and Disney books for families to check out and enjoy together. Supplies and decorations for the party were donated by the Friends of the Library, Abbes Donut Nook and Heidi Schrozk.

Facilities Construction & Maintenance

Operations Administration public restroom remodels have begun. Contractor will take approximately 30 days to complete the 5th floor restroom remodel. Please pardon our dust and any inconvenience while we strive to improve accessibility and update these restrooms. Project Management The South County Regional Park soccer sports lighting upgrade project was approved during the 9/25 BCC Meeting. This project is expected to be installed before the end of 2018. Repairs and Maintenance Facilities Work Order History for the week of Sept. 16 through Sept. 22: (70 created - 59 closed) FWO's Closed: (3 Electrical/Lighting; 7 Plumbing/Irrigation; 13 HVAC; 25 Various Carpentry/Building Trades; 11 others). CCU Eastport remodel is coming to a close this week. Charlotte Sports Park north and south 3-story staircase sandblasting and painting restoration project is complete.

Tourism

Staff from the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau welcomed three meeting planners who organize military reunions to Charlotte County last week (Sept. 26 & 27). Their itinerary included visiting the Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida, the Military Heritage Museum, Rick Treworgy’s Muscle Car City Museum, and a sunset cruise with King Fisher Fleet. Several hotels capable of accommodating groups along with the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center were also visited. Military reunions are significant for veterans because when they were deployed together, they forge bonds unlike relationships outside of the military. Reunions allow them to reconnect, share experiences and oftentimes, heal together. Charlotte County’s waterfront location, Punta Gorda’s walkable downtown, bountiful outdoor activities, dining, lodging, attractions, and Charlotte County’s designation as a Purple Heart County makes the destination appealing to this market segment.

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